the crystal stopper-第11章

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　the　whole　adventure　produced　in　him　…　not　for　a　second　did　he　suspect　the　very　simple　truth　which　was　about　to　be　revealed　to　him。　　Continuing　his　way　down；　he　crouched　on　one　of　the　bottom　steps　of　the　staircase；　thus　placing　himself　between　the　door　of　the　bedroom　and　the　hall…door；　on　the　road　which　Daubrecq's　enemy　must　inevitably　take　in　order　to　join　his　accomplices。

He　questioned　the　darkness　with　an　unspeakable　anguish。　　He　was　on　the　point　of　unmasking　that　enemy　of　Daubrecq's；　who　was　also　his　own　adversary。　　He　would　thwart　his　plans。　　And　the　booty　captured　from　Daubrecq　he　would　capture　in　his　turn；　while　Daubrecq　slept　and　while　the　accomplices　lurking　behind　the　hall…door　or　outside　the　garden…gate　vainly　awaited　their　leader's　return。

And　that　return　took　place。　　Lupin　knew　it　by　the　renewed　vibration　of　the　balusters。　　And；　once　more；　with　every　sense　strained　and　every　nerve　on　edge；　he　strove　to　discern　the　mysterious　thing　that　was　coming　toward　him。　　He　suddenly　realized　it　when　only　a　few　yards　away。　　He　himself；　hidden　in　a　still　darker　recess；　could　not　be　seen。　　And　what　he　saw　…　in　the　very　vaguest　manner　…　was　approaching　stair　by　stair；　with　infinite　precautions；　holding　on　to　each　separate　baluster。

〃Whom　the　devil　have　I　to　do　with？〃　said　Lupin　to　himself；　while　his　heart　thumped　inside　his　chest。

The　catastrophe　was　hastened。　　A　careless　movement　on　Lupin's　part　was　observed　by　the　stranger；　who　stopped　short。　　Lupin　was　afraid　lest　the　other　should　turn　back　and　take　to　flight。　　He　sprang　at　the　adversary　and　was　stupefied　at　encountering　nothing　but　space　and　knocking　against　the　stair…rail　without　seizing　the　form　which　he　saw。　　But　he　at　once　rushed　forward；　crossed　the　best　part　of　the　hall　and　caught　up　his　antagonist　just　as　he　was　reaching　the　door　opening　on　the　garden。

There　was　a　cry　of　fright；　answered　by　other　cries　on　the　further　side　of　the　door。

〃Oh；　hang　it；　what's　this？〃　muttered　Lupin；　whose　arms　had　closed；　in　the　dark；　round　a　little；　tiny；　trembling；　whimpering　thing。

Suddenly　understanding；　he　stood　for　a　moment　motionless　and　dismayed；　at　a　loss　what　to　do　with　his　conquered　prey。　　But　the　others　were　shouting　and　stamping　outside　the　door。　　Thereupon；　dreading　lest　Daubrecq　should　wake　up；　he　slipped　the　little　thing　under　his　jacket；　against　his　chest；　stopped　the　crying　with　his　handkerchief　rolled　into　a　ball　and　hurried　up　the　three　flights　of　stairs。

〃Here；〃　he　said　to　Victoire；　who　woke　with　a　start。　　〃I've　brought　you　the　indomitable　chief　of　our　enemies；　the　Hercules　of　the　gang。　　Have　you　a　feeding…bottle　about　you？〃

He　put　down　in　the　easy…chair　a　child　of　six　or　seven　years　of　age；　the　tiniest　little　fellow　in　a　gray　jersey　and　a　knitted　woollen　cap；　whose　pale　and　exquisitely　pretty　features　were　streaked　with　the　tears　that　streamed　from　the　terrified　eyes。

〃Where　did　you　pick　that　up？〃　asked　Victoire；　aghast。

〃At　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　as　it　was　coming　out　of　Daubrecq's　bedroom；〃　replied　Lupin；　feeling　the　jersey　in　the　hope　that　the　child　had　brought　a　booty　of　some　kind　from　that　room。

Victoire　was　stirred　to　pity：

〃Poor　little　dear！　　Look；　he's　trying　not　to　cry！。。。　Oh；　saints　above；　his　hands　are　like　ice！　　Don't　be　afraid；　sonnie；　we　sha'n't　hurt　you：　the　gentleman's　all　right。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Lupin；　〃the　gentleman's　quite　all　right；　but　there's　another　very　wicked　gentleman　who'll　wake　up　if　they　go　on　making　such　a　rumpus　outside　the　hall…door。　　Do　you　hear　them；　Victoire？〃

〃Who　is　it？〃

〃The　satellites　of　our　young　Hercules；　the　indomitable　leader's　gang。〃

〃Well。。。　？〃　stammered　Victoire；　utterly　unnerved。

〃Well；　as　I　don't　want　to　be　caught　in　the　trap；　I　shall　start　by　clearing　out。　　Are　you　coming；　Hercules？〃

He　rolled　the　child　in　a　blanket；　so　that　only　its　head　remained　outside；　gagged　its　mouth　as　gently　as　possible　and　made　Victoire　fasten　it　to　his　shoulders：

〃See；　Hercules？　　We're　having　a　game。　　You　never　thought　you'd　find　gentlemen　to　play　pick…a…back　with　you　at　three　o'clock　in　the　morning！　Come；　whoosh；　let's　fly　away！　　You　don't　get　giddy；　I　hope？〃

He　stepped　across　the　window…ledge　and　set　foot　on　one　of　the　rungs　of　the　ladder。　　He　was　in　the　garden　in　a　minute。

He　had　never　ceased　hearing　and　now　heard　more　plainly　still　the　blows　that　were　being　struck　upon　the　front…door。　　He　was　astounded　that　Daubrecq　was　not　awakened　by　so　violent　a　din：

〃If　I　don't　put　a　stop　to　this；　they'll　spoil　everything；〃　he　said　to　himself。

He　stood　in　an　angle　of　the　house；　invisible　in　the　darkness；　and　measured　the　distance　between　himself　and　the　gate。　　The　gate　was　open。　To　his　right；　he　saw　the　steps；　on　the　top　of　which　the　people　were　flinging　themselves　about；　to　his　left；　the　building　occupied　by　the　portress。

The　woman　had　come　out　of　her　lodge　and　was　standing　near　the　people；　entreating　them：

〃Oh；　do　be　quiet；　do　be　quiet！　　He'll　come！〃

〃Capital！〃　said　Lupin。　　〃The　good　woman　is　an　accomplice　of　these　as　well。　　By　Jingo；　what　a　pluralist！〃

He　rushed　across　to　her　and；　taking　her　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　hissed：

〃Go　and　tell　them　I've　got　the　child。。。　They　can　come　and　fetch　it　at　my　place；　Rue　Chateaubriand。〃

A　little　way　off；　in　the　avenue；　stood　a　taxi　which　Lupin　presumed　to　be　engaged　by　the　gang。　　Speaking　authoritatively；　as　though　he　were　one　of　the　accomplices；　he　stepped　into　the　cab　and　told　the　man　to　drive　him　home。

〃Well；〃　he　said　to　the　child；　〃that　wasn't　much　of　a　shake…up；　was　it？。。。　What　do　you　say　to　going　to　bye…bye　on　the　gentleman's　bed？〃

As　his　servant；　Achille；　was　asleep；　Lupin　made　the　little　chap　comfortable　and　stroked　his　hair　for　him。　　The　child　seemed　numbed。　　His　poor　face　was　as　though　petrified　into　a　stiff　expression　made　up；　at　one　and　the　same　time；　of　fear　and　the　wish　not　to　show　fear；　of　the　longing　to　scream　and　a　pitiful　effort　not　to　scream。

〃Cry；　my　pet；　cry；〃　said　Lupin。　　〃It'll　do　you　good　to　cry。〃

The　child　did　not　cry；　but　the　voice　was　so　gentle　and　so　kind　that　he　relaxed　his　tense　muscles；　and；　now　that　his　eyes　were　calmer　and　his　mouth　less　contorted；　Lupin；　who　was　examining　him　closely；　found　something　that　he　recognized；　an　undoubted　resemblance。

This　again　confirmed　certain　facts　which　he　suspected　and　which　he　had　for　some　time　been　linking　in　his　mind。　　Indeed；　unless　he　was　mistaken；　the　position　was　becoming　very　different　and　he　would　soon　assume　the　direction　of　events。　　After　that。。。

A　ring　at　the　bell　followed；　at　once；　by　two　others；　sharp　ones。

〃Hullo！〃　said　Lupin　to　the　child。　　〃Here's　mummy　come　to　fetch　you。　Don't　move。〃

He　ran　and　opened　the　door。

A　woman　entered；　wildly：

〃My　son！〃　she　screamed。　　〃My　son！　　Where　is　he？〃

〃In　my　room；〃　said　Lupin。

Without　asking　more；　thus　proving　that　she　knew　the　way；　she　rushed　to　the　bedroom。

〃As　I　thought；〃　muttered　Lupin。　　〃The　youngish　woman　with　the　gray　hair：　Daubrecq's　friend　and　enemy。〃

He　walked　to　the　window　and　looked　through　the　curtains。　　Two　men　were　striding　up　and　down　the　opposite　pavement：　the　Growler　and　the　Masher。

〃And　they're　not　even　hiding　themselves；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃That's　a　good　sign。　　They　consider　that　they　can't　do　without　me　any　longer　and　that　they've　got　to　obey　the　governor。　　There　remains　the　pretty　lady　with　the　gray　hair。　　That　will　be　more　difficult。　　It's　you　and　I　now；　mummy。〃

He　found　the　mother　and　the　boy　clasped　in　each　other's　arms；　and　the　mother；　in　a　great　state　of　alarm；　her　eyes　moist　with　tears；　was　saying：

〃You're　not　hurt？　　You're　sure？　　Oh；　how　frightened　you　must　have　been；　my　poor　little　Jacques！〃

〃A　fine　little　fellow；〃　said　Lupin。

She　did　not　reply。　　She　was　feeling　the　child's　jersey；　as　Lupin　had　done；　no　doubt　to　see　if　he　had　succeeded　in　his　nocturnal　mission；　and　she　questioned　him　in　a　whisper。

〃No；　mummy；〃　said　the　child。　　〃No；　really。〃

She　kissed　him　fondly　and　petted　him；　until；　in　a　little　while；　the　child；　worn　out　with　fatigue　and　excitement；　fell　asleep。　　She　remained　leaning　over　him　for　a　long　time。　　She　herself　seemed　very　much　worn　out　and　in　need　of　rest。

Lupin　did　not　disturb　her　contemplation。　　He　looked　at　her　anxiously；　with　an　attention　which　she　did　not　perceive；　and　he　noticed　the　wider　rings　round　her　eyes　and　the　deeper　marks　of　wrinkles。　　Yet　he　considered　her　handsomer　than　he　had　thought；　with　that　touching　beauty　which　habitual　suffering　gives　to　certain　faces　that　are　more　human；　more　sensitive　than　others。

She　wore　so　sad　an　expression　that；　in　a　burst　of　instinctive　sympathy；　he　went　up　to　her　and　said：　〃I　do　not　know　what　your　plans　are；　but；　whatever　they　may　be；　you　stand　in　need　of　help。　　You　cannot　succeed　alone。〃

〃I　am　not　alone。〃

〃The　two　men　outside？　　I　know　them。　　They're　no　good。　　I　beseech　you；　make　use　of　me。　　You　remember　the　other　evening；　at　the　theatre；　in　the　private　box？　　You　were　on　the　point　of　speaking。　　Do　not　hesitate　to…day。〃

She　turned　her　eyes　on　him；　looked　at　him　long　and　fixedly　and；　as　though　unable　to　escape　that　opposing　will；　she　said：

〃What　do　you　know　exactiy？　　What　do　you　know　about　me？〃

〃There　are　many　things　that　I　do　not　know。　　I　do　not　know　your　name。　But　I　know。。。　〃

She　interrupted　him　with　a　gesture；　and；　resolutely；　in　her　turn；　dominating　the　man　who　was　compelling　her　to　speak：

〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃What　you　know；　after　all；　is　not　much　and　is　of　no　importance。　　But　what　are　your　plans？　　You　offer　me　your　help：　　with　what　view？　　For　what　work？　　You　have　flung　yourself　headlong　into　this　business；　I　have　been　unable　to　undertake　anything　without　meeting　you　on　my　path：　you　must　be　contemplating　some　aim。。。　What　aim？〃

〃What　aim？　　Upon　my　word；　it　seems　to　me　that　my　conduct。。。　〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　said；　emphatically；　〃no　phrases！　　What　you　and　I　want　is　certainties；　and；　to　achieve　them；　absolute　frankness。　　I　will　set　you　the　example。　M。　Daubrecq　possesses　a　thing　of　unparalleled　value；　not　in　itself；　but　for　what　it　represents。　　That　thing　you　know。　　You　have　twice　held　it　in　your　hands。　　I　have　twice　taken　it　from　you。　　Well；　I　am　entitled　to　believe　that；　when　you　tried　to　obtain　possession　of　it；　you　meant　to　use　the　power　which　you　attribute　to　it　and　to　use　it　to　your　own　advantage。。。　〃

〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃

〃Yes；　you　meant　to　use　it　to　forward　your　schemes；　in　the　interest　of　your　own　affairs；　in　accordance　with　your　habits　as　a。。。　〃

〃As　a　burglar　and　a　swindler；〃　said　Lupin；　completing　the　sentence　for　her。

She　did　not　protest。　He　tried　to　read　her　secret　thoughts　in　the　depths　of　her　eyes。　　What　did　she　want　with　him？　　What　was　she　afraid　of？　　If　she　mistrusted　him；　had　he　not　also　reasons　to　mistrust　that　woman　who　had　twice　taken　the　crystal　stopper　from　him　to　restore　it　to　Daubrecq？　Mortal　enemy　of　Daubrecq's　though　she　were；　up　to　what　point　did　she　remain　subject　to　that　man's　will？　　By　surrendering　himself　to　her；　did　he　not　risk　surrendering　himself　to　Daubrecq？　　And　yet　he　had　never　looked　upon　graver　eyes　nor　a　more　honest　face。

Without　further　hesitation；　he　stated：

〃My　object　is　simple　enough。　　It　is　the　release　of　my　friends　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray。〃

〃Is　that　true？　　Is　that　tr